Luis Díaz, of Liverpool, celebrates the 2-0 goal during the friendly football match between Liverpool and Sevilla.
Photo: EFE – ADAM VAUGHAN
Sevilla ended their last friendly match of the preseason with a resounding defeat (4-1) at Anfield, where the pressure and quick transitions of Liverpool overwhelmed the Andalusian team, which conceded three goals in the last fifteen minutes of the first half.
The decision by Sevilla coach Xavi García Pimienta to rely on the youth academy was notable, as four starters opposing Arne Slot’s constellation of stars were from the B team: right-back Darío Benavides, center-back Ramón Martínez, attacking midfielder Alberto Collado, and left winger Stanis Idumbo from Belgium.
For Idumbo, it was precisely before the quarter-hour mark that the first great opportunity of the match arose, resulting from a well-executed high press, where the small attacker stole the ball from Van Dijk at the edge of the area, but he shot into the clouds when he was one-on-one with Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Despite Sevilla’s good defensive performance, the high tempo of the Reds drew them closer to Nyland’s goal, being startled by a crossed shot from Salah and beaten half an hour in when Alexander-Arnold sent in a cross from the right that Diogo Jota volleyed splendidly with his left foot.
The disadvantage forced Sevilla to leave spaces, which is just the scenario that Liverpool thrives on, hitting close to a 2-0 with a counterattack by Salah that was halted by Nianzou, who later conceded a goal from Colombian Luis Díaz, whose cut on Benavides was electric and his right-footed shot to the top corner was unstoppable.
With the Andalusian team falling apart, the nail in the coffin came in the last play of the first half due to a reckless press on the local goalkeeper, whose clearance left a two-on-two in midfield, well driven by Szoboszlai, who fixed Nyland to offer Luis Díaz a double.
After the break, the entrance of some experienced players like Gudelj and Ejuke, among others, balanced the match, and Sevilla reduced the deficit with a play initiated by the Nigerian winger, who entered the area and assisted Peque, who scored with a beautiful curling shot into the far corner.
Immediately after, just after the kickoff, Liverpool regained their three-goal advantage when Nyoni capitalized on a poor clearance from Montiel, and the match concluded without the scoreline worsening as Nyland made a miraculous save in the last minute to deflect a shot from Salah.
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